New Utah DOT program aimed improve truckers’ safety

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) established a driver program to improve safe driving.

According to a UDOT report, 24 commercial vehicle accidents occurred on Utah’s roads in the last year alone, and passenger car drivers are responsible for 75% of accidents involving semi-trailers.

«We need to better understanding how to share the road safely,» said UDOT spokesperson Kathy Lindley. «All it takes is a few simple changes to the way we drive every day to make our roads safer for everyone.»

The Truck Smart campaign reminds car drivers of the two main techniques for avoiding large trucks:

• When driving past a semi-trailer, drivers should look for the trucker’s face in mirrors or even make eye contact.
• Before maneuvering in front of a large truck, drivers should make sure they can see the entire truck or both headlights in the rearview mirror before driving.

«Every day I drive on the roads of Utah, I get into a lot of bad situations,» said Angie Cloud, who has been droving a truck for 18 years. «As truck drivers, we go through intensive training to get our driver’s license, with hundreds of hours of training. We do our best to stay safe, but other people on the road also need to understand how to avoid us so that we all stay safe.»

Drivers in Utah can see the campaign on social media, on billboards, and hear it through streaming services.